Angelus News | September 6, 2024 | Vol. 9 No. 18

LOCAL
■ Faith groups ask governor to
support bill aimed at solitary
confinement
The Diocese of Oakland is helping lead
a push by faith-based organizations urging
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other
state leaders to restrict solitary confinement in
detention facilities.
A new bill known as the “California Mandela
Act” would forbid solitary confinement
for certain populations and would limit the
amount of time it could be used. It was passed
by both the state Assembly and Senate, but
would need to be enacted by Newsom by
Sept. 30 to take effect.
California-based religious organizations first
sent a letter to Newsom supporting the bill in
2023. The Diocese of Oakland reissued the
letter in August with more groups signing on,
including the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
the dioceses of Orange, Fresno, San Jose, and
Stockton, All Saints Episcopal Church in
Pasadena, and Temple Sinai in Oakland.
“Solitary confinement is torture,” the letter
states. “Solitary confinement contradicts the
fundamental religious principles of redemption,
compassion, and the pursuit of justice
that aims to restore individuals and communities.”
■ Sisters of St. Louis honored at
St. Mel for 75th year in California
The Sisters of St. Louis were honored at St. Mel Church in Woodland
Hills on Aug. 24 with a special Mass and reception honoring the 75th
anniversary of their coming to California in 1949.
The sisters have a particularly strong connection in Woodland Hills,
having previously had their convent at St. Mel and founding the nearby
all-girls Louisville High School.
During the Mass — also attended by Bishop Gerald Wilkerson — Father
Steve Davoren, pastor at St. Mel, presented a plaque dedicating the
Sacred Heart Adoration Chapel in the parish’s Spiritual Retreat Center to
the Sisters of St. Louis.
“Make no mistake, you laid that foundation,” Davoren said. “As you celebrate
75 years
here in this
archdiocese,
think about
the miracle,
the grace of
all the people
— thousands
upon thousands
of people
— where your
lives have
crossed.
“People will
remember your
presence.”
Tomorrow’s leaders today — LA Auxiliary Bishop Brian Nunes smiles with students after celebrating Mass for
The Association of Catholic Student Councils’ leadership conference at Whittier College on July 26-28. More
than 300 rising sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders from more than 70 local Catholic schools attended the
TACSC conferences this summer at Whittier College and Loyola Marymount University. | TACSC
Father Steve Davoren, pastor at St. Mel Church in Woodland Hills, presents a
plaque to the Sisters of St. Louis. | CHUCK BUTTITT
■ LA cathedral to host
one-day Gospel revival
experience
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
along with the nonprofit organization
ACTS XXIX, is hosting a free one-day
experience titled “Rescue Live!” at the
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
on Sept. 28.
The event is aimed at current Catholics,
those who have left the Church,
and those who have never experienced
church before. The conference
will tackle four main questions in
pondering the Gospel and Jesus:
Why is there something rather than
nothing? Why is everything so obviously
messed up? What, if anything,
has God done about it? And if he has
done anything about it, then how
should I respond?
To learn more or register, visit lacatholics.org/rescue-live.
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6 • ANGELUS • September 6, 2024